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Drive for Detroit: Week 7 in Review

October 9, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Be forewarned: There were more incredible and meaningful finishes in Michigan High School football this weekend than meet the parameters of our weekly “Drive for Detroit” report.

A pair of incredible winning streaks ended on the west side of the state. Another Grand Rapids area game featured record book individual performances from both teams. The Upper Peninsula saw four undefeated teams fall. And the Detroit area had enough great games to fill half our weekly review – but of course we led with a legendary coach tying another for the career wins record.

Below are five results from each region that stuck out most (and we’ll be sure to catch up with the successes of Detroit Martin Luther King, Madison Heights Madison, Clarkston Everest Collegiate and others in reports to come). Drive for Detroit is powered by MI Student Aid. 

Bay & Thumb

Frankenmuth 28, Millington 22

Given the similar numbers these rivals had put up this season, another close finish hardly was a surprise. The Eagles (7-0) took a 20-point lead into halftime and held off the Cardinals’ fourth-quarter comeback to clinch a share of the Tri-Valley Conference East title – and extend their winning streak over Millington (6-1) to three straight. Click for more from the Saginaw News.

Also noted:

Carrollton 26, Alma 14 – A week after Alma knocked reigning champion Freeland out of the TVC Central race, Carrollton (6-1) pushed its way in by handing the Panthers (6-1) their first league loss; both now chase Saginaw Swan Valley.

Fenton 52, Flushing 35 – The Tigers (7-0) clinched a share of their seventh straight Flint Metro League title with their fourth win in four seasons over the Raiders (5-2).

Davison 35, Lapeer 17 – The Cardinals (6-1) knocked Lapeer (5-2) out of a tie for first in the Saginaw Valley League Blue, but will now root for the Lightning to beat leader Midland this week so all three can share the championship.

Bay City John Glenn 28, Bay City Central 24 – John Glenn (4-3) kept its playoff hopes alive by winning the first meeting between these teams since 1990, while Central (3-4) may have seen its hopes dashed by a third loss of seven points or fewer.

Greater Detroit

Farmington Hills Harrison 17, Oak Park 14

It was considered inevitable that Harrison coach John Herrington would get his 430th win and tie Al Fracassa for the most football victories in state history. But maybe not against Oak Park (5-2), which was undefeated in the Oakland Activities Association White. Instead, the Hawks (5-2) moved into a three-way tie for first with the Knights and Birmingham Groves, and only last-place Berkley is left on the league schedule as Herrington looks to break the record this week. Click for more from MLive-Detroit.

Also noted:

Livonia Churchill 21, Grand Blanc 9 – The Chargers (6-1) won a matchup of teams previously undefeated in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Gold to clinch a share of the league title, while Grand Blanc (6-1) suffered the first loss of what already is its best season since 2013.

Rochester Adams 21, Clarkston 14 – The Highlanders (6-1) cleared what looked to be the last major hurdle in at least sharing the OAA Red title; Clarkston (5-2) was tied for first with Adams and West Bloomfield, and Adams finishes the league schedule this week against winless Troy Athens.

Madison Heights Lamphere 28, Clinton Township Clintondale 20 – The Eagles (4-3) handed Clintondale (6-1) its first loss to finish a perfect run through the Macomb Area Conference Bronze and claim the outright title after going 0-9 last season.

Dearborn Divine Child 14, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 13 – Only a point separated these 6-1 teams, but that point gave Divine Child a share of the Detroit Catholic League AA championship. 

Mid-Michigan

DeWitt 28, Haslett 0

It’s impossible to argue DeWitt isn’t the best team in the Lansing area this season, with its Week 2 win over Grand Ledge and now another outright Capital Area Activities Conference Red title with this victory over second-place Haslett (5-2). The Panthers (6-1) haven’t lost a league game since 2008 and will move into the CAAC Blue next season with Grand Ledge and the rest of the area’s largest schools. Haslett, meanwhile, can still finish with its best regular season since 2006 by winning out. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Also noted:

Belding 42, Wyoming Godwin Heights 35 – This win for the Knights (6-1) combined with Kelloggsville’s (see “West Michigan” below) makes this week’s matchup for a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver title; Godwin Heights (5-2) will turn its attention to earning a third straight playoff berth.

Lansing Sexton 18, Holt 16 – The Big Reds (5-2), with another win over one of the state’s largest schools, are looking powerful again as they project to slot into Division 4; Holt (3-4) must win out to have a shot at an at-large bid as it looks to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Vermontville Maple Valley 38, Perry 13 – The Lions (4-3) have a tough road to win out with undefeated Kent City next, but control their ability to earn a first playoff berth since 2005; Perry (3-4) is hanging on to an at-large possibility as it looks to qualify for the first time ever.

Ithaca 51, Ovid-Elsie 16 – We don’t talk about Ithaca much during the regular season because its margins of victory usually are substantial and expected, but this time the Yellowjackets (7-0) clinched a share of another Tri-Valley Conference West title by beating the second-place Marauders (5-2) and while extending their regular-season win streak to 71 going back to 2009. 

Northern Lower Peninsula

Gaylord St. Mary 34, Johannesburg-Lewiston 18

St. Mary improved to 7-0 to set up a matchup with Harbor Springs this week for a share of the Northern Michigan Football League Legacy title – and those seven wins also represent the Snowbirds’ most in a season since 2009. Johannesburg-Lewiston (4-3) still can figure into the league picture as it works to return to the playoffs after missing a year ago; the Cardinals face Harbor Springs in Week 9. Click for more from 9&10 News.

Also noted:

Elk Rapids 23, Grayling 8 – The Elks (6-1) tied their highest win total since 2010 by avenging last season’s 34-0 loss to the Vikings (4-3).

Lake City 26, Evart 14 – The Trojans (7-0) finished a perfect run through the Highland Conference after going 2-7 overall last season and 1-4 in league play; Evart (3-4) remains alive for an at-large playoff bid.

Hillman 35, Oscoda 21 – The Tigers (4-3) have bounced back from an 0-3 start as they try to extend their playoff streak to 12 seasons, but Oscoda (4-3) must bounce back from two straight losses to guarantee qualifying for the second straight.

Gaylord 24, Petoskey 7 – The Blue Devils (4-3) earned themselves a shot at a share of the Big North Conference title this week against first-place Traverse City West by downing a Petoskey team much better than its 2-5 record with a win over Escanaba and close losses to Marquette and Traverse City Central this fall. 

Southeast & Border

Ida 16, Hudson 0

With two league games to play, these two are tied for first in the Lenawee County Athletic Association after sharing the championship a year ago. Ida (6-1) with this win avenged last year’s one-point loss to the Tigers (6-1) and also ran a shutout streak to two straight games; Hudson hadn’t been shut out since 2015. Both teams face Onsted (5-2) over the next two weeks, while Hudson also faces Blissfield (4-3) and Ida has Hillsdale (3-4). Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

Also noted:

Pinckney 42, Adrian 14 – In its first season in the Southeastern Conference White, Pinckney (6-1) won a share of its first league title since 1995 while sending Adrian (3-4) into at-large playoff territory.

Chelsea 14, Ypsilanti Community 7 – Chelsea (6-1) clinched the other share of the SEC White, getting by Ypsilanti Community (5-2) with a late score.

Pittsford 24, Athens 0 – Four of five teams in the Southern Central Athletic Association are poised to make the playoffs, but Pittsford (6-1) and Climax-Scotts are the leaders in league play although Athens (5-2) still has a shot at a shared title.

Addison 42, Grass Lake 12 – The Panthers (6-1) pulled within one more win of claiming at least a shared Cascades Conference title after going 3-4 in the league a year ago; reigning champ Grass Lake (4-3) needs to win out to guarantee a 13th straight playoff berth. 

Southwest Corridor

Three Rivers 21, Edwardsburg 18

All streaks come to an end, of course, and Edwardsburg’s run of 34 straight Wolverine B Conference victories won’t soon be forgotten. Neither will Three Rivers’ persistence in breaking it. Three times the Wildcats trailed Friday, including late in the fourth quarter before prevailing and putting the league title up for grabs for the first time in a while. Edwardsburg, Three Rivers and Vicksburg all are 6-1 in the league (and overall) with two games to play. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Also noted:

Coloma 32, Schoolcraft 7 – The Comets (5-2) handed Schoolcraft its first league loss since 2014 and after falling to the Eagles (5-2) last season 48-7 and 41-7 in 2015.

Battle Creek Harper Creek 17, Coldwater 7 – The Beavers (7-0) claimed a share of the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference championship for the second year in a row by avenging last season’s only league loss, to Coldwater (4-3).

Cassopolis 45, Hartford 0 – The Rangers (7-0) set themselves up to face undefeated Mendon this week for a share of the Southwest 10 Conference title, while Hartford (5-2) has two chances left to pick up an automatic playoff bid after going 2-7 a year ago.

Watervliet 68, Constantine 24 – The Panthers’ output on offense is simply incredible; Watervliet (7-0) still hasn’t scored fewer than 50 this season, and Constantine (3-4) hadn’t given up more than 41 since facing the Panthers last season. 

Upper Peninsula

Newberry 28, Norway 14

This will be remembered as one of the stunning wins north of the bridge this season. Norway (6-1) had been cruising along with all but one win this fall by at least two touchdowns (and the seven-pointer was against a team from Wisconsin). But Newberry didn’t have a game Week 6, and clearly was ready for a Knights team that could’ve clinched a share of the Mid-Eastern Conference title in its first season in the league. Newberry (4-2) instead has a share for sure, and the winner of this week’s Norway/Lake Linden-Hubbell game will claim one as well. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Also noted:

Escanaba 35, Gladstone 14 – While nonleague, winning this game gave the Eskymos (6-1) the unofficial “Best in the U.P.” title and rightfully so as its only loss was Week 2 to Petoskey and Gladstone (6-1) hadn’t been beaten.

Calumet 22, L’Anse 14 – The Copper Kings (4-3) had to win this one to keep a few playoff options open with two tough games left, and L’Anse (4-3) finds itself in must-win mode as well.

Bessemer Gogebic 14, Bark River-Harris 0 – The Miners (3-4) have put themselves back in the hunt with two straight wins over teams with playoff hopes; Bark River-Harris (3-4) now also must hope for an at-large bid.

Lake Linden-Hubbell 12, Houghton 8 – The Lakes (3-3) keep chipping away after their 0-3 start, with the greatest challenge yet coming this week against Norway. 

West Michigan

Holland West Ottawa 35, Rockford 30

Holland West Ottawa earned a share of the O-K Red championship, an accomplishment with statewide impact regardless of how and against whom. But beating Rockford (4-3) for the first time since 2002 to do so – breaking a 16-game losing streak to the Rams – made this incredibly sweet as well. The Panthers (6-1) have lost this season only to undefeated Forest Hills Central, not bad after two straight 2-7 finishes. Click for more from the Holland Sentinel.

Also noted:

Grand Rapids Catholic Central 57, Comstock Park 50 – Nolan Fugate’s 477 rushing yards for GRCC (7-0) were the fourth-most in MHSAA history and needed to combat an MHSAA record-tying 18 receptions by Hunter Spence to lead Comstock Park (4-3).

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 35, Lowell 6 – The Rangers (7-0) earned the opportunity to face Cedar Springs this week with the O-K White title on the line by handing Lowell (4-3) its second straight loss; the Red Arrows must win out to guarantee adding to their 18-year playoff streak.

Wyoming Kelloggsville 36, Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian 21 – See the Belding entry under “Mid-Michigan” for more explanation, but this win gave Kelloggsville (7-0) a spot in an unofficial O-K Silver championship game while NorthPointe (5-2) will try to make the playoffs against Godwin Heights this week.

Montague 40, Muskegon Oakridge 0 – The Wildcats (7-0) clinched a share of the West Michigan Conference title by handing rival Oakridge (5-2) its first shutout since opening night 2014 and after losing to the Eagles by three a year ago.

8-Player

Rapid River 16, Stephenson 14

These two have ruled the Western Eight Conference this season and were considered by some the best in all of the Upper Peninsula in 8-player. Those reputations were based in part on high-scoring offenses – so of course defense dominated, especially as Rapid River (7-0) held down a Stephenson attack averaging 55 points a game heading into the night (Rapid River had been averaging only 45 per). The Eagles (6-1) had beaten the Rockets 52-8 last season, and now must root for Powers North Central this week and beat the Jets in Week 9 in hopes of gaining a share of the league title. Click for more from the Escanaba Daily Press.

Also noted:

Engadine 30, Cedarville 26 – The Eagles (5-2) are among the few who have had Cedarville’s number lately, with this win their third in two years over the Trojans (6-1).

Kingston 30, Morrice 26 – A week after knocking Deckerville out of their first-place tie in the North Central Thumb League Stars division, Morrice (6-1) fell back into a tie with this upset by the Cardinals (5-2).

Deckerville 56, Flint International Academy 36 – The Eagles (6-1) took full advantage of Morrice’s loss to climb into an NCTL Stars tie for first while sending the Flames (5-2) into third place.

Tekonsha 14, Battle Creek St. Philip 12 – Tekonsha (4-3) had never beaten St. Philip (4-3) in 8-player and had scored 20 total points over five games against the Tigers.

Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Student Financial Services Bureau located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information, including various student financial assistance programs to help make college more affordable for Michigan students. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 savings programs (MET/MESP) and eight additional aid programs within its Student Scholarships and Grants division. Click for more information and connect with MI Student Aid on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTO: Newberry defenders swarm a Norway ball carrier in handing the Knights their first loss of the season Friday. (Photo by Jeff Rochefort.)

Drive for Detroit: Playoff Week 3 Review

November 12, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The results are fewer at this stage of the MHSAA Football Playoffs, but the headlines are louder with more on the line and the best of the best running into each other with only a few weeks left to play.

This third round saw our 8-Player Finals pairings set – with those championship games taking place this Saturday at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome. Morrice will face Pickford in Division 1, while Rapid River will take on Onekama in Division 2.

Meanwhile, in 11-Player Regional Finals, we saw history made for Belleville, Holton and Breckenridge to name a few. We also saw the end to Pewamo-Westphalia’s attempt at making a fourth a straight MHSAA championship game, and said good-bye to one of Michigan’s most prominent high school programs and the winningest coach in state history.

Click to check out the scores through the first three weeks of the tournament and the pairings for the weekend ahead. “Drive for Detroit” is powered by MI Student Aid. 

Division 1

HEADLINER: Saline 13, Rockford 12 (OT) The Hornets’ impressive body of work this season grows by the week. By outlasting Rockford with a 2-point conversion stand, they advanced to the Semifinals for the first time since finishing Division 1 runner-up in 2014. Add to this one to wins over East Kentwood two weeks ago and Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Week 2 – and giving unbeaten Clinton Township Chippewa Valley its closest game of the season in a five-point Week 1 loss – and it continues to be quite a run. Rockford also should be proud; after opening 1-3 this fall, the Rams not only extended a record 24-year playoff streak but won their first District title since 2015. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News and see below for highlights from FOX 17.

Regional Recap: Clarkston 13, Lapeer 0 The reigning Division 1 champion Wolves (10-2) locked down their fourth Regional title in six seasons and eliminated Lapeer (11-1) for the third time over the last five – and second time during that string where the Lightning entered the game undefeated. Belleville 13 West Bloomfield 10 The Tigers (12-0) have broken through with their first Regional title, defeating last season’s Division 1 runner-up West Bloomfield (9-3) to make their first Semifinal. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 42, Dearborn Fordson 7 The Big Reds (12-0) are headed to the Semifinals for the first time since 2003 after shutting down a Tractors team that finished 10-2 and was averaging 38 points per game.

Division 2

HEADLINER: Birmingham Groves 53, Livonia Franklin 29 The Falcons (10-2) are headed to their second Semifinals in three seasons after downing Franklin (7-5), a semifinalist a year ago. Groves has run off 10 straight victories since opening this fall 0-2, and the 53 points were a season high. Franklin led at the end of the first quarter 2-0 before the Falcons ran off 21 unanswered points during the second. Click for more from the Oakland Press and see highlights below from State Champs Sports Network.

Regional Recap: Muskegon Mona Shores 58, Portage Northern 28 The Sailors (11-1) also scored a season high to win their second Regional title ever and first since 2014, over a Northern team that at 9-3 tied its program record for wins set in 1981. Midland 43, Walled Lake Western 0 The Chemics (9-3) won their first Regional title since 2007 with one of the most impressive victories of the weekend, handing Western (8-4) its first shutout since the 2016 Division 2 Final. Warren DeLaSalle 21, Port Huron Northern 3 The reigning Division 2 champion Pilots (10-2) ended the winningest season since 1986 for Northern (10-2), which did hold DeLaSalle to its third-fewest points of this fall.

Division 3

HEADLINER: Muskegon 34, Cedar Springs 18 The reigning Division 3 champion Big Reds (12-0) withstood one of their toughest challenges of this season, as Cedar Springs (10-2) trailed by only a point, 13-12, at halftime. Muskegon quarterback Cameron Martinez – who broke La’Darius Jefferson’s school season record of 2,095 rushing yards during the game – ran for 32 and 75-yard scores during the third quarter. The Red Hawks finished with their most wins since going 11-2 in 2000. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle and see highlights below from WZZM.

Regional Recap: Zeeland East 50, Parma Western 24 The Chix are headed to the Semifinals for the first time since 1989 when East and West were one school. Parma Western ended its longest playoff run with a school record for wins at 10-2. DeWitt 42, Farmington 7 The Panthers (12-0) bounced back offensively after scoring nine points in the District Final and as a defense giving up eight points per game locked down the Falcons (8-4), who completed their longest run since 2002. Detroit Martin Luther King 54, Allen Park 15 The Crusaders (10-2) won their sixth Regional title in eight seasons, ending Allen Park’s at 9-3 after the Jaguars bounced back from just missing the playoffs in 2017.

Division 4

HEADLINER: Chelsea 21, Farmington Hills Harrison 14 The Bulldogs (9-3) have risen from third in their league during the regular season to win their second Regional title over the last four years, this time under first-year coach Josh Lucas. Chelsea’s win also marked the end of Farmington Hills Harrison football under coach John Herrington, who concluded as the winningest coach in MHSAA history with a 443-112-1 record since starting the program in 1970. Harrison (8-4) is closing next summer. Click for more from the Sun Times News.

Regional Recap: Grand Rapids Catholic Central 35, Escanaba 6 For the third straight season, the two-time reigning Division 4 champion Cougars (11-1) eliminated the Eskymos (9-3), this time holding Escanaba to its fewest points of the fall. Edwardsburg 56, Holland Christian 21 The Eddies (12-0) set up a rematch of last season’s Division 4 Final (a 42-31 loss to GRCC) by scoring more than 50 points for the seventh time this season, ending a nice run for Holland Christian (8-4) with its best record since 2009. Williamston 28, St. Clair 0 The Hornets (10-2) advanced to their first Semifinal since 2010 by shutting out a St. Clair team that finished 9-3 and had scored a combined 132 points over its first two playoff games.

Division 5

HEADLINER: Saginaw Swan Valley 36, Reed City 28 Swan Valley’s side of this bracket began with four of the 30 undefeated teams left in all of 11-player at the end of the regular season, and the Vikings (12-0) remained one by edging another over the weekend. Reed City (11-1) gave Swan Valley its closest game this season and a closer one than when the two met and the Vikings won 29-14 in a Semifinal a year ago. How close was it? Reed City ended the game on Swan Valley’s 2-yard line. Click for more from the Saginaw News and see highlights below from WJRT.

Regional Recap: Hudsonville Unity Christian 39, Kalamazoo United 14 The Crusaders (10-2) advanced to their second Semifinal in three seasons by locking down a Titans offense averaging 53 points per game heading into Saturday. United finished 11-1, its best since the co-op between Hackett and Kalamazoo Christian was formed in 2014. Portland 40, Frankenmuth 6 The Raiders are headed to their first Semifinal since winning Division 5 in 2012 after stopping Frankenmuth (9-3) in its quest to win a third straight Regional title. Marine City 40, Detroit Denby 32 (2OT) The Mariners also finished third in their league during the regular season, but are headed to the Semifinals for the first time since winning Division 4 in 2013. Denby (9-3) concluded its winningest season and longest playoff run both since 2006, with its losses this fall by a combined 18 points.

Division 6

HEADLINER: Montrose 37, Flint Hamady 6 As noted above, this weekend was good to teams finishing third in their leagues this fall. The Rams (10-2) did so in the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference, but with this victory won their first Regional title since 2013 and ended the longest run and winningest season ever for Hamady (11-1). Click for more from the Flint Journal and see highlights below from WEYI.

Regional Recap: Montague 30, Schoolcraft 14 The Wildcats (10-2) reached double-digit wins for the third time in four seasons with their first Regional title since 2009 – when it went on to win the Division 6 title. Schoolcraft (9-3) finished by playing in its first Regional Final since 2013. Traverse City St. Francis 41, Kingsley 20 The Gladiators (12-0) won their third Regional title in four seasons, although Kingsley (10-2) cut the deficit after St. Francis won their first meeting by 35 in Week 4. Jackson Lumen Christi 33, Blissfield 0 Two-time reigning Division 6 champion Lumen Christi (11-0) won its third straight Regional title with its third shutout of the season. Blissfield (7-5) was held scoreless for the first time since 2016.

Division 7

HEADLINER: New Lothrop 26, Pewamo-Westphalia 14 It’s rare that the loudest headline from a football weekend comes from one of the divisions pitting the state’s smaller schools. But it certainly was noticed when New Lothrop (11-1) ended the two-time reigning champ Pirates’ 24-game winning streak. P-W (11-1) had beaten New Lothrop 35-14 in a District Final only a year ago, but now the Hornets will return to the Semifinals for the first time since 2015. Click for more from the Flint Journal.  

Regional Recap: Lake City 34, Roscommon 28 The Trojans (12-0) held off Roscommon (10-2) to make the Semifinals for the second straight season and extend their run of the last two years to a combined 24-1. Cassopolis 23, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 22 The Rangers’ defense, giving up now 4.3 points per game, was tested for the first time. But Cassopolis (12-0) won its second Regional title in three years by stopping St. Mary (9-3) on a goal line stand to finish the game. Madison Heights Madison 44, Riverview Gabriel Richard 7 The Eagles (12-0) are returning to the Semifinals after handing a playoff defeat to Gabriel Richard (7-5) for the second straight season.

Division 8

HEADLINER: Holton 14, Mendon 6 The Red Devils’ first playoff season since 2007 now includes its first Regional title ever. Holton (8-4) outlasted annual power Mendon to move on after both reached the playoffs as additional qualifiers at 5-4 to end the regular season. The Hornets, after winning their 10th District title in 12 seasons, finished 7-5. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.

Regional Recap: Breckenridge 12, Ishpeming 6 The Huskies (12-0) have taken the steps from first playoff berth in 2016 since 1993, to first District title ever last season to now first Regional championship. Breckenridge drove north and handed Ishpeming (11-1) its only defeat by locking down an offense averaging 42 points per game entering the weekend. Harbor Beach 35, Flint Beecher 0 The Pirates (11-1) are back in the Semifinals for the first time since making three straight trips from 2012-14. Beecher (8-4) closed its longest playoff run since 2012 in Division 7. Reading 54, Detroit Southeastern 0 The Rangers (12-0) now have shutouts in half of their games this season and their first Regional title since 2008. It was a memorable fall for Southeastern (8-4), which made the playoffs for the first time since 2010 and only two years removed from a 3-24 three-year string.  

8-Player Division 1

SEMIFINAL: Pickford 40, AuGres-Sims 20 The Wolverines (11-1) were giving up only 7.5 points per game and hadn’t scored fewer than 50 this season. But Pickford (12-0) dominated on both sides of the ball, breaking through for its first MHSAA championship game berth after missing in Semifinals the last two seasons. Click for more from the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News and see highlights below from MI Sports Now.

SEMIFINAL: Morrice 40, Colon 8 The Orioles (12-0) will continue their deepest playoff run ever, with this victory securing their first MHSAA Finals berth. Morrice locked down a Colon offense averaging 44 points per game, and the Magi (10-2) gave up a season high. Still, it was a strong 8-player debut for Colon, which went 2-7 in 11-player a year ago and was playing in its first Semifinal in either format. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

8-Player Division 2

SEMIFINAL: Onekama 28, Portland St. Patrick 14 The Portagers will play in their first MHSAA football championship game after doubling up last season’s Division 2 runner-up. Onekama (10-2) also set a program record for wins, piling up 20 straight points to hold off the Shamrocks (7-5). Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

SEMIFINAL: Rapid River 36, Cedarville 30 One more third-place success story from the weekend. Rapid River (9-3) downed Cedarville 28-20 in Week 7 to eventually lock up that spot in the Great Lakes Conference East, and edged the Trojans (7-5) a second time to reach the 8-Player Finals for the third time this decade and first since 2013. Click for more from the Escanaba Daily Press.

Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Student Financial Services Bureau located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information, including various student financial assistance programs to help make college more affordable for Michigan students. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 savings programs (MET/MESP) and eight additional aid programs within its Student Scholarships and Grants division. Click for more information and connect with MI Student Aid on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTO: Breckenridge seniors give a thumbs up while celebrating their Division 8 Regional championship in Ishpeming. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)